Rotating furnace



July 4, 1933. c HALLER 1,916,569

ROTAT ING FURNACE Filed July 14 1930 1\1\ Flew. A

CARL HALLER;

INVENTOR W l ATTORNEY Patented July 4, 1933 PATENT OFFECE CARL HALLER, 015' DETROIT, MICHIGAN ROTATING FURNACE Application-filed J'u1y,14, 1930. Serial No. 467,706.

The object of this invention is to more completely mix the molten charge during the rotation of the furnace.

Fig. l'shows a plan view of the furnace as 5 seen from above.

. Fig. 2 shows the same furnace in elevation. Fig. 3 shows anend view taken on the left end, (the flue end), of Figs. 1 and 2, looking to the right.

The furnace consists of a cast iron shell A B 'G strengthened by ribs. D is the refractory lining, preferably made of fire brick, but alternatively may be made of monolithic, (vitrified), material, rammed in place.

The slag and metal spouts E and F are shown in the middle of the furnace and, also, at the end at E and F. Either, or both, of these spouts can be used. Preferably, how- 29 ever, the end spouts are used.

The contour of the inside wall of the furnace Z W V,X Y constitutes the novel feature of this invention. The opening Z is the opening into which the burner is inserted.

r This burner may be an oil burner, a coal dust burner, or a gas burner, depending on the locality, (that is, on the available fuel-generally coal dust is used).

The furnace wall flares out at TV into the rectangular passage V, the axis of this rectangular section changes 90 degrees, so that the longer aXis of the rectangle is horizontal at the burner end and vertical at the flue-end Y. In the middle the section is, therefore, square. At X the rectangular section changes to a circular opening Y, which serves as the flue or outlet for the burnt. gases. The two rectangular sections are shown in broken lines in Fig. 3.

The driving mechanism is, also, shown clearly in Fig. 3; the rings G, H, 1), ride on rollers I, K, mounted on pillow blocks L, which rest on pedestals M, M.

A gear N engages with a pinion O driven by a sprocket P, which in its turn is driven by a chain R, which engages with a small sprocket Q mounted on a shaft U driven by a motor, (not shown).

This mechanism is mounted on a pedestal T and bearing S.

It will be noted that the line going through L the bottom lip -of the flue Y and the similar opening Z in Fig. 2 is shown by a broken line. This line should be-horizontal, as it represents the highest level at which molten iron, 5 (andslag), can stand in. the furnace. In other words, the line Y Z determines the capacity of the furnace.

Now the area of the rectangle below the line Y Z is larger at the end Y than at the .60 end Z, with the'furnace in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the furnace rotates 90 degrees, the reverse is true. Hence, the molten metal is impelled from one end to the other, or in other words, is oscillatedfrom end to 65 end at the same time it is rotated. V

Operation.-When producing gray iron, a charge of pig iron, scrap iron, and scrap steel .together with the flux and ferrosilicon required, is placed; into the furnace through the .7

flue end Y.

The burner. is inserted through Z and for about 35 minutes the furnace is rocked gently backand forth, (the slag holes F, F and the spouts E, E being plugged).

When the charge becomes sufficiently mol- "ten, the furnace is rotated for about 2% hours, when melting should be completed with gray iron. The exact period taken however, depends on the composition and theproper- 30 ties desired; by superheating and allowing the temperatureto drop slowly, more complete solution is obtained, which will give a superior product.

Before pouring, the slag is drawn oif through Fv and F, or either ofthese outlets.

The pouring operation may be prolonged 3 to 4: hours, if the burner is turned on at Z from time to time, as the iron becomes cold and sluggish. 9

It will be noted that after drawing off the slag, the furnace is rotated about degrees, to bring the pouring spout E into position. It will, also, be noted that the end spout IE will completely empty the furnace, whereas,9 he central spoutE cannot; hence the end' spout E should be used normally, and the middle spout E kept in reserve if E becomes clogged.

It will be noted, that the mere fact that. 1

the section is rectangular causes an improved mixing action and, over and above this, the fact that the cross section below the horizontal surface of the metal varies, and the variation increases as the quantity of metal decreases and the less the charge the more important is it to make a good mixture, makes an ideal combination.

Further, if it is necessary to quit pouring and reheat, it is an enormous advantage if, whilst this operation is being performed, the remnant of the molten iron is most thoroughly mixed and the lower the level of the molten metal the more vigorous the mixing.

Obviously, equivalent results can be obtained by substituting an elliptical section for a rectangular one, and such a change does not depart from the teachings of this invention.

What I claim is 1. An elongated, substantially, horizontal, furnace adapted to rotate about its longer axis, the sections of said ifurnace normal to said axis varying in shape from one end to the other, whereby the molten material within the furnace is oscillated axially during rotation.

2. An elongated, substantially, horizontal, furnace adapted to rotate about its longer axis, the cross sections of said furnace normal to said axis, varying in shape from one end to the other, being substantially rectangular, the rectangles being located at right angles 1 to each other, the section in the middle being substantially square, means for admitting flame producing fuel at one end and discharging1 the product of combustion from the other en furnace having an elongated charge receiving chamber polygonal in cross section and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said chamber having certain of the sidewalls thereof tapering inwardly from one end thereof to the other and having other walls tapering outwardly from one end of the chamber to the other.

4. A. rotatable furnace having a rectangu lar charge receiving chamber extending substantially axially of the furnace, said chamber having the opposite walls thereof tapering in one direction from a point adjacent one end of the same to a point adjacent the other end and having the adjacent walls ta pering in another direction and connected to the walls aforesaid.

5. A rotatable furnace having a rectangular charge receiving chamber extending substantially axially of the furnace, said chamber having opposed walls tapering outwardly from one end thereof to the other end having the adjacent walls tapering inwardly and connected to the walls aforesaid.

6. A rotatable furnace having a polygonal charge receiving chamber extending substantially axially of the furnace, said chamber having opposed sidewalls tapering inwardly from one end of the chamber to the other and having other walls tapering outwardly from bein elon ated and extendin transversel to each other and having substantially the same area.

8. A furnace having a rotatable charge receiving chamber provided with side and end Walls, the inner surfaces of said end walls defined by the side walls being rectangular in shape with the longitudinal edges of one surface arranged opposite the transverse edges of the other surface.

9. A furnace having a rotatable charge receiving chamber having adjacent walls inclined in opposite directions and operable during rotation of the chamber to cause the contents thereof to move axially of the chamber in opposite directions.

10. A furnace provided with a rotatable charge receiving chamber having opposed walls tapering axially of the chamber in one direction from a point adjacent one end of the latter to a point, adjacent the other end and having a second set of opposed walls in clined axially of the chamber in the opposite dirgction and connected to the walls aforesai In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL HALLER.

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